08-09-2022
Audi R8 6.0 Quatto V12 TDI (Le Mans)
You might not be able to buy this car, but it makes our list today because of its sheer pace. The 6.0-litre Hungarian built twin-turbocharged V12 diesel engine produces 738 lb /ft of torque, yet the car only weighs 1750 kg. The result? The Audi R8 Le Mans will go from 0 - 62 mph in 4.2 seconds and 0 - 100 mph in less than ten. As such, it'll complete the quarter mile in 11.87 seconds. With a 6-speed manual gearbox and Quattro all-wheel-drive, this R8 is a true drivers car, and the fact that it'll return 25 miles per gallon makes it all the more awesome.
BMW 5 Series M550d x Drive
The M5 might head up the 5-Series range, but the M550d isn't that far behind, matching its petrol counterpart in gear. With 546 lb /ft of torque from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six and xDrive all-wheel-drive, this monster will go from 0 - 62 mph in 4.5 seconds and blow any other diesel saloon out of the water on the motorway. What makes this machine even more incredible is that it will achieve 44.7 miles per gallon according BMW, with a 165 g/km CO2 output.
Audi A8 4.2 TDI
The Audi A8 4.2 TDI is an absolute monster. It's a sleeper, too, because it just looks like any other Audi A8 (aside from the big exhausts and fat tyres, of course). This car produces a thumping 380 bhp and 627 lb /ft of torque from its 4.2-litre TDI V8 engine, and the result is shocking - this A8 will complete the 0 - 62 mph dash a whole eight tenths of a second faster than the previous version, in 4.6 seconds.
BMW 335d xDrive
The new BMW 3-Series is a fantastic car, and the new range of diesel engines are cleaner than ever. For outright pace and economy, however, you want the 335d xDrive. This car features a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six diesel engine that produces a thumping 308 bhp and 465 lb /ft of torque. It is only available with BMW's all-wheel drive system, xDrive, but this helps the car sprint from 0 - 62 mph in just 4.8 seconds.
Audi A7 3.0 TDI
With an eight-speed automatic gearbox and more leather than you can shake a stick at, the Audi A7 is the ultimate cruiser. It’s not bad for covering ground fast, either. Equipped with the 3.0-litre TDI engine, the Audi A7 will complete a 0 - 62 mph sprint in just 5.1 seconds. With 310 bhp and an earth-spinning 479 lb /ft of torque, in-gear response is blistering.
BMW X6 M50d E71
The BMW X6 is a beast of a car - not just for its size, but its straight-line pace too. The fastest diesel version is the M50d - this version boasts stunning 3.0-litre twin-turbo 24-valve diesel engine that develops a whopping 376 bhp and 546 lb /ft of torque. It will sprint from 0 - 62 mph in just 5.2 seconds and because of its xDrive system, it'll do that in all weather conditions.
BMW X5 M50d
The BMW X5 is the ultimate road hogger - it's huge, and if you meet the M50d version out on the open road, you've a slim chance of overtaking one. This is powered by BMW's excellent twin-turbo 3.0-litre diesel engine that produces 376 bhp and 546 lb /ft of torque. It will sprint from 0 - 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds. If the X5 is too small for you, then perhaps we can tempt you with an X6...
Audi Q7 6.0 V12 TDI
With the very same engine that was featured in the Audi R8 Le Mans, the Audi Q7 V12 TDI has lungs big enough to inhale the Earth's oxygen supply. This car boasts a whopping 500 bhp and 737 lb /ft of torque, which will see it from 0 - 62 mph in just 5.4 seconds. Better yet, this car accelerates faster in-gear than any non-turbocharged Porsche up to its 155 mph top speed.
Audi A5 3.0 TDI
This is probably the best-selling diesel car on our list today. The Audi A5 3.0 TDI is a fast-lane favourite, because it develops a solid 242 bhp and 369 lb /ft of torque, which is enough to see it from 0 - 62 mph in only 5.8 seconds. In-gear response is also very snappy, and with a weight of only 1770kg, the A5 handles well too with its Quattro all-wheel-drive system ensuring that it'll put its power down when wet.
Porsche Panamera 3.0 V6
The Porsche Panamera might be a footballers favourite (and ugly, depending on who you ask), but there's no denying its sheer pace. The fastest diesel version is the 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, which produces 296 bhp and a thumping 479 lb /ft of torque. This is good enough to get this 1900kg monster from 0 - 62 mph in just 5.8 seconds.
Mercedes Benz C350 CDI BlueEfficiency
Kicking off our list is the Mercedes-Benz C350 CDI, a mid-size saloon that has stolen plenty of sales from BMW's 3-Series. The C350 CDI is powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces 265 bhp and 457 lb /ft of torque, which is enough to see it accelerate from 0 - 62 mph in six seconds flat. It will even achieve 47 miles per gallon on a combined cycle, and despite the capacity, its CO2 output is modest at 154 g/km.